August 1491

No alien dwelling within the town, no matter what nationality he may be, is to act as host to any man, nor give bed or board, except for his own servants and children, upon penalty of 20s. each time he is at fault in this, to be levied by the bailiffs (without any remission), half to the profit of the town and half to the profit of the bailiffs.

[I have assumed that this refers to hosting in the narrow sense of taking responsibility for visiting merchants and guiding their mercantile activities while in town – something that was the prerogative of burgesses. However, it may perhaps refer to being a host in a broader sense.]